The Arizona Miner
Prescott, Arizona Territory
March 22nd, 1873
More Blood and More Sorrow.
We, last week, gave an account of the murder of two men— A.C.
Swain and John McDonald— by Apaches; and it now devolves upon us
to give another and fuller account of the terrible affair; also,
to record the murder of another civilized being, by the same
cruel wretches:
Wickenburg, Yavapai Co. Arizona.
March 14th, 1873.
To the Editor of the Arizona Miner:
On Tuesday night, March 11th, the Salt River stage with five
passengers, passed a wagon by the way side, three miles south of
Lambey’s station. The driver and passengers saw a man stretched
out by the wagon, but feeling that the Indian question, at
least, hereabouts, was at rest, they believed it to be a camp
for the night. But the early break of day revealed the deadly
work of the savage foe— an old pioneer, Augustine C. Swain, lay
dead by the side of his muleless wagon, mutilated. By his side
lay a young man, John McDonald, who, the day before, arrived at
Smith’s mill, rose early and was en route to Wickenburg, and
who, on arriving at the place also met the fate of his dead
companion. They were found side by side.
But our tale of sorrow does not end here; P.W. Smith and Geo.
Taylor, son of Peter Taylor, drove from Smith’s mill to Lambey’s
station same afternoon; Mr. Smith remained for the night, and
young Taylor, feeling every security, at 5 o’clock started for
home, some five miles distant, on foot. His not returning that
night created but little uneasiness, but on the return of Mr.
Smith, Wednesday morning, nothing was talked of except the sad
affair of Mr. Swain and the young man, supposing young Taylor
was about the camp. Soon, however, came from an anxious mother’s
lips, “where is George?” The almost certainty of his fate was
felt as the words came from the fond mother. A party at once
started, but no success attended their efforts, until Thursday
morning, the 13th, a little distance from the ill-fated spot
where Swain and McDonald fell, on a hill, not distant, they came
upon a scene too horrible to report, fully, in your journal.
Suffice it to say that the sight caused the stout heart of the
old pioneer to quiver. Here lay young Taylor. Evidently the
savage foe had done all he could to put out the candle of life
by procrastinating, and every invention of his hellish and
barbarous ingenuity. Fifty odd arrows were taken from his naked
body. One of the mules taken had been slaughtered and remains of
fires were visable; and the feast had been taken, and the war
dance performed. The appearances are that he fought desperately
against great odds. The trail is a new one, coming from the west
going east, and the number, judging from the well beaten trail,
More Blood and More Sorrow- Continued.
would indicate hundreds. Young Taylor was a strong, fine young
man, favorite of all who knew him; and a favorite, if I may so
speak, of fond and loving parents.
The remains were at once sent to Vulture City for burial,
arriving Thursday night at 10 o’clock. To the large number of
citizens present, the solemnity of the occasion seemed to perv
ade all hearts. Mr. B. Sexton committed the body to its last
resting place by reading a portion of the solemn and appropriate
service of the Episcopal church for the dead.
It is the opinion of all, that had the mail stage been two hours
later, driver and passengers would have received the same fate.
S.B.
It now appears that the band of butchers were travelling in an
easterly direction when they fell upon and murdered our late
fellow citizens. All accounts agree in stating that they numb
ered between 300 and 400, but this we take to be an over
estimate. Some say that the warriors- no, not warriors, but
skulking murderers, had their women and children with them, and
that they were a band of Apache-Yumas who have been living in
the mountains near the Colorado river, and who have never lived
long on any reservation.
Again it is thought that they were eastern Apaches, who were
returning homeward from a trading trip among the Indians of the
Colorado. But, speculation aside, they were Indians, and murd
erous ones at that, and it is to be hoped that Lieut. Rice’s
command will find, surprise and kill the last devil of them.
